Abstract

Objectives: To establish the expiration date of herbal decoction pouch, the change in antimicrobial activities was measured according to storage temperature and period. Methods: Five herbal formulas, Gyeji-tang, Jakyakgamcho-tang, Saengmaek-san, Paljung-san, and Dangguisu-san, with antimicrobial activity were selected from 51 herbal formulas commonly used in traditional Korean medical institutions. Five herbal formula decoction pouches were prepared and stored at room temperature (RT) or 4℃ from 0 to 12 weeks to evaluate the antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, or Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated by the disk diffusion method (disk size: 10 mm). Results: The decoction pouches of Gyeji-tang and Jakyakgamcho-tang maintained antimicrobial activity against V. parahaemolyticus from week 0 (14 mm) to week 12 (14 mm) at both temperatures. Saengmaek-san pouch had antimicrobial activities against V. parahaemolyticus and B. cereus from week 0 (19 mm and 20 mm) to week 12 (both 18 mm), respectively. At RT and 4℃, the antimicrobial activity of Paljung-san pouch was maintained week 0 (17 mm) to week 12 (both 13 mm) against B. cereus. Against L. monocytogenes, the antimicrobial activity of Dangguisu-san pouch showed 27 mm at week 0 and 23 mm (RT) and 24 mm (4℃) at week 12, respectively. Conclusion: According to increase of the storage duration, the antimicrobial activities of 5 herbal formula decoction pouches decreased slightly but remained up to 12 weeks. These results can be used as important data to establish the expiration date of herbal formula decoction pouches.